Malaga 2-0 Porto - Malaga march on

Posted Wednesday, March 13, 2013 by PA

Malaga's European run continued into the quarter-finals of the Champions League after Manuel Pellegrini's men overcame a one-goal first-leg deficit to beat 10-man Porto 2-0 at La Rosaleda.

Isco's wonderful opener minutes before the break gave the home side the lead to cancel out Joao Moutinho's first-leg goal before substitute Roque Santa Cruz scored just four minutes after coming on to seal a famous win.

With a four-year European ban hanging over them, this year's competition is all the more important for the Spaniards, who ramped up the pressure after Steven Defour saw red four minutes into the second half.

After a slow start, Julio Baptista headed tamely over from an Isco free-kick in the 11th minute, the home side made strides to make up their one-goal deficit from the first leg.

The first 30 minutes were dominated by bookings with neither side holding back, putting in some strong challenges.

Porto's Nicolas Otamendi was the first to see yellow after 17 minutes, before Martin Demichelis, Defour, Alex Sandro and Jesus Gamez all joined him in the book.

Porto were playing their own dangerous game, holding a high line against a pacy Malaga forward line.

They were lucky the linesman raised his flag in the 27th minute against Javier Saviola after he was sent clear by Defour.

Joaquin shot over just after the half-hour mark before Vitorino Antunes forced a decent save out of Porto stopper Helton, who acrobatically tipped his effort over the bar.

Saviola then had a goal ruled out by referee Nicola Rizzoli after Baptista was alleged to have fouled Helton, before he spilt the ball to the striker. However, replays showed that the Brazilian was pushed into the keeper by Danilo.

Malaga finally got their goal the pressure deserved three minutes before the break. And it was worth the wait.

With few options and nobody closing him down, Isco curled a wonderful effort over Helton and into the top corner to put his side level on aggregate.

James Rodriguez replaced Moutinho at the break as the visitors sought to improve their attacking options.

However, just four minutes into the second period they were in trouble after Defour received a second yellow for a petulant trip on Joaquin, whose skill and speed had seen him glide past the Belgian.

Vmtor Pereira reacted by bringing on Maicon for winger Silvestre Varela and switching to three centre-backs, before Jeremy Toulalan was booked for a lunge on Lucho Gonzalez.

Christian Atsu came on for Sandro with 20 minutes left before Santa Cruz replaced Baptista.

Jackson Martinez's flick almost swung the game in the other direction, but his header drifted just wide.

And just after coming on, Santa Cruz put his side ahead after outjumping Otamendi from an Isco corner to plant his header past a diving Helton.

Maicon thought he had put Porto back in front after heading home from a free-kick, however the goal was correctly ruled out for offside as Malaga progressed.